Circular knitting machine



March 23, 1937. A KAUFMAN 2,074,999

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 27', 19:55

Pi''- E- lNvx-:NToR ALEXANDER KAus-MAN ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 23, 1937 1 Claim.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a needle separating method for circular knitting machines.

The use of pattern wheels for knitting ma- 5 chines is generally known. These wheels function to separate the needles of the knitting machine to different elevations to control the knitting operation. This invention has particular reference to a novel association of a pattern wheel with the knitting machine to perform the functions stated, and distinguishes from the prior devices merely in structural features.

More particularly, the invention proposes the mounting of a pattern wheel on the usual cam which lifts the needles in such a manner that certain of the needles are lifted the full distance, and others of the needles are only partially lifted and thereafter are forced behind the cam.

More particularly, the invention makes use of needles having flexible butts engaging the cam and wherein the pattern Wheel is capable of ilexing the needles as desired out of contact with the cam so that they maintain intermediate positions.

Still further the invention contemplates the provision of cams to return all of the needles to their initial positions.

Another object of the invention is the construction of a device as mentioned which is simple and durable and which can be manufactured and sold at a reasonable cost.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, and to the appended claim in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawing forming a material part of this disclosure:-

Fig. 1 is a schematic developed View of a portion of a circular knitting machine constructed according to this invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional View taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the device, a portion thereof being shown in section.

The invention is used in conjunction with a circular knitting machine having a needle cylinder IB associated with a plurality of knitting needles II. These needles. have offset resilient butts l2 normally engageable by a cam I3 to raise the needles to an elevation indicated by reference numeral lli. The needle cylinder I il is shown formed with vertical slots (see Fig. 2) 55 in which the needles II slidably engage. The

flexibility of the butts i2 consist in bent lower portions of the needles arranged in such a manner that the lower portions may be forced inwards, as indicated by the dot and dash lines in Fig. 2. 5

A pattern wheel i5 is rotatively mounted upon a stud I supported in a bracket Il' which is attached upon the cam I3. This pattern wheel is arranged intermediate of the extremities of the cam I3, as clearly shown in Fig. l.

The pattern wheel is formed with peripheral cutouts ifea for meshing with the butts I2 of the needles to cause the pattern wheel to turn and also to allow the butts to ride upon the cam I3. The pattern wheel I5 is also formed with peripheral notches i9 for engaging the butts I2 of needles Il to flex the butts off of the cam it and simultaneously to cause the pattern wheel to turn. When the butts are flexed off the cam they will be forced into the grooves of the needle cylinder and become wedged between the back face of the cam and the groove so as to maintain their partially raised positions.

In Fig. 1 the butts I2 of a plurality of needles are shown progressively extended up along the 2 cam I3. Above the pattern wheel I5, only certain of the butts are shown upon the cam, and others of the butts shown behind the cam. The butts shown on the cam are indicated by refer'- ence numerals lia and those behind the cam by numerals I2b. The butts I2a are raised the complete height to the altitude indicated by reference numeral ifi. The needles, indicated by the butts having reference numerals I2b are only raised partially by the cam I3 until that time when they are forced off the cam by the pattern wheel.

A cam 2E) is mounted upon the cam I3 and serves to lower the needles, indicated by the butts I2b when desired, back to their initial positions. A cam 2i serves to lower the needles having the butts I2a back to their initial positions. The area indicated by reference numeral 22 is one in which all of the butts are again at the same elevation. L15

Particular attention is called to Fig. 3 wherein it should be noted that the butts I2 are riding upon the cam I3 and the cutouts or notches of the pattern wheel control whether these butts may continue upon the cam or be forced oi 50 of the cam and behind the cam. Numerals I2a indicate the butts returning on the cam, and numerals I2b, the butts which have been forced behind the cam.

The purpose of causing the needles to assume diierent elevations are generally known in the knitting art. When the needles are at different elevations, various types of stitches will be produced, such as tuck stitches, Welt stitches, etc.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself t the precise construction herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming Within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent isz- In a circular knitting machine, a needle cylinder formed With vertical peripheral slots, knitting needles slidable in said slots and having offset resilient butts extending from said slots, a cam associated with said butts to raise the needles, a pattern wheel rotatably mounted on said cam between the extremities of the cam and having peripheral cut-outs for meshing with the butts of the needles to turn the pattern Wheel, and also having peripheral notches of considerably less depth than the slots for engaging the butts of the Wheel to ex the needles off the cam at only partially raised elevation and to turn the pattern Wheel, a knitting cam to return all fully raised needles, and a cam to return all partially raised needles to initial elevation, the butts which have been flexed off the cam resiliently engaging the back of the cam for maintaining their partially raised positions, said pattern wheel being arranged at an inclination corresponding with the inclination of the cam upon which it is mounted, and the pattern wheel meshingly engaging the needle butts during the raising motion of the latter.

ALEXANDER KAUFMAN. 

